The first few weeks of 2018 have flown by. How many resolutions have you kept so far? As we know, many are typically abandoned by the end of January. However, before you resolve against resolutions entirely, a new year does offer a great opportunity to take stock of your career and map out your professional development. Take the time to ask yourself – are you still challenged in your role? Do you continue to grow your skills? Are you fulfilled?

If the answer is no to any of the above, it may be time to move onto the next challenge. Here’s how you can kickstart your search and set yourself up for success in 2018.

Let your network know you’re open to new opportunities. You can’t harness the power of your professional network without signalling that you’re open to new roles. However, as few people have the luxury of being able to quit their job before searching for a new one, doing so without alerting your current boss can feel like a professional landmine. It’s always a good strategy to leave a job on good terms and foster long-lasting relationships with ex-employers – you never know when your paths will cross again. So how do you start your search without burning any bridges? Casually ask your close contacts if they’ve heard of any relevant openings you may be interested in and start to leverage your network.

Brush up on soft skills. Too often, professionals looking to make themselves more appealing to potential employers focus on hard skills development at the expense of soft ones. Your emotional IQ is just as important as your technical capabilities and often, soft skills are what will determine your fit for a given company. As nearly 70 per cent of

Canadian employers are struggling to find candidates with the right soft skills, taking relevant courses on leadership or team-building training can help you stand out and show you’re just as committed to enhancing your emotional intelligence as your hard skillset.

Nearly 70 per cent of Canadian employers are struggling to find candidates with the right soft skills

Let your work speak for itself. Want your online portfolio or professional profile to stand out? Make it visual. When people hear or read information, they’re likely to remember only 10 per cent of that information three days later. However, if a relevant image is paired with that same information, it’s proven that people retain 65 per cent three days later. Simply put, your resume isn’t enough to catch recruiters’ attention. You need to show potential employers what you’ve achieved rather than simply tell them, so add an online portfolio highlighting the projects you’re most proud of to your website or LinkedIn profile.

Your portfolio should showcase your unique professional story using such rich, visual content as images, videos, presentations and more. This isn’t just for creative professionals – from the analyst who makes annual predictions on tech trends to the 3D animator who is looking to fund a new short film, the opportunities are limitless for you bring your accomplishments to life in a visual way.

Make time for personal interests. Companies want well-rounded employees who can bring diverse talents and interests, so make sure that you’re bringing your full self to an interview. In fact, your hobbies and volunteerism can make you a better employee, helping you gain new skills, cultivate new ways of thinking and push yourself to learn something new. They’re also a powerful tool for stress relief, confidence building and networking. Have you been considering taking up a musical instrument, learning a new language or taking up a cause? There’s no time like the present. Just be sure to integrate your new skills and interests into your professional brand.

Don’t underestimate the informational interview. While a strong online brand is crucial in today’s digital age, the value of building relationships in person can’t be understated. Take every opportunity you can to go on informational interviews with people whose careers you admire. It’s great practice for job interviews, and can also help you build valuable connections that may pay off long-term. What’s more, hearing from others with similar skills and experiences can help you better map your career and figure out what’s next.

A new year brings another chance to evaluate your goals and the progress you’ve made against them. It also means holding yourself accountable to make a change if you’re not feeling fulfilled or seeing opportunities for growth. While change can be daunting, take it one step at a time.

Are you considering making a career or job switch in the new year? Tell me about it in the comments.